Patent GB-652833-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in method and machine for multiple lane wrapping
IPC: B65B9/06
Filed: 1948-11-05
Abstract: 652,833. Wrapping-machine. CAMPBELL, S. J. Nov. 5,1948, No. 28805. [Class 94(i)] [Also in Group XXX] A multiple lane wrapping machine has means for supplying a broad web of wrapping material and includes means for slitting such web longitudinally into separate wrapping strips, means for advancing the separate strips, means for spacing respective strips in the course of their advance while substantially maintain  ing the relative longitudinal positions in the respective strips of the portions thereof which were contiguous in the web, and means for subsequently severing the respective strips at the corresponding points into individual wrappers. Blocks of candy to be wrapped are fed by a conveyer belt 24 through four feedways 31, 32, 34, Fig. 1, against a starting gate 35 which aligns the blocks transversely and is intermittently operated by the energization of a solenoid to release several blocks on several paths so that they may be wrapped simultaneously. The blocks are carried by a transfer conveyer belt 38 on to individual feed shoots 38 down which they are propelled in unison by depending arms 43 of an overhead conveyer belt 44 on to individual strips of wrapping material. The wrapping material is supplied from a broad roll 55 the web being provided with a series of longitudinally spaced transversely extending bands 97 of thermo plastic adhesive which energize photo-electric mechanism 57, 58 used, in conjunction with a switch 208. operated by the arms 43 of the article conveyer 44, for synchronizing movement of the wrapping material and the blocks to be wrapped. The broad web passes over a feed roll 59 which co-operates with slitting knives 60 to divide web longitudinally into strips which pass through spreader means 62, 63, described in Specification 652,834, and over glue rolls 80 which apply glue to the margins of the strips and are channelled about the lower ends of the shoots 39. Immediately beyond the ends of the shoots 39 individual folding tables 83 having backed side pressure conveyers 84, 85 and folding blades 90 to tube and fold the strip around the articles, a pressure plate 93 holding said fold to set the adhesive. After the tubed strip leaves the folding table 83 backed rotating knife means 98, 99 cut the tubed strip between the articles, the upper knife blade being flanked by a heating iron which seals the several ends of the wrappers, and the machine being so synchronized that the bands 97 of thermoplastic material are situated midway between the tubed articles at the point where the tube is severed. The wrapper is pleated at the sides, before severing, by discs 120 carried on pivoted levers 121 and moved in and out by cam and crank means Figs. 4, 8 (not shown). A broad transverse conveyer belt 110 receives individual work pieces fed on by rotary brushes 113 from all of the several channels after severing and sealing. The articles on the belt 110 are engaged by lugs 142 of two guided cross-feed conveyers 143, which feed half of each row of articles to the left and half to the right, Fig. 10, on to and along a table 148 over the .sides of which the wrapper ends 149 project and are engaged by gluing discs 150. The ends 149 are then turned upwardly by oppositely moving blades 160, 162, Fig. 11, these being operated through rack and pinion mechanism by the engagement of a lug 155 carried by conveyer 143 with a rocker arm 154 on the shaft of the pinions. The upturned ends are then folded over flat on to the articles by oscillating sealing fingers 169, 170, Fig. 13, actuated by a cam operated lever. The completely wrapped article 175, Fig. 17 runs on to an inverting table 176, Fig. 10, beneath semi-circular guide bars 177 and is discharged with its glued ends underneath on to a turntable 180 which feeds the articles to a discharge conveyer 182. The pressure conveyers 84, 85 may be adjusted toward or away from one another to deal with articles of varying sizes by screw means 223 having right and left hand threads, the pulleys for said conveyers being driven by spiral gears 221 splined on a driving shaft 220.